Our general checklist can help you take charge of your special day. Visit us at AdamPressleyFilms.com for additional checklists andworksheets to help with your wedding budget, honeymoon, stationery, and more.

E N G A G E M E N T T O 1 2 M O N T H S B E F O R E

Start a folder or file box with a calendar and notebook to keep track of information.

Consider planning resources:

checklists like this one

planning software

a professional planner/coordinator

Create an itemized wedding budget. (visit our website to request wedding budget workbook)

Decide how to finance each part of the wedding.

Choose, with alternates:

a wedding date

a rehearsal (and rehearsal dinner) venue

a ceremony venue

a reception venue

Schedule a consultation with Adam Pressley Films to find out how we can create an

Find a local photographer who specializes in wedding photography. Schedule a

exceptional wedding video.

General Wedding Checklist

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Attend your engagement photography session.

View engagement photo proofs. Select and order your favorites, including a digital copy

if you’d like to use one in your announcements.

Make a list of friends and family members who might appreciate an engagement

announcement.

Find a local print shop specializing in wedding stationery.

Select a wedding announcement design and order enough announcements and

envelopes for your needs. Include an engagement photo, if available.

Start looking at invitations for mailing, and remember to think about:

driving directions to the ceremony

gift registry information

engagement photos

a ceremony program

reply cards

separate reception invitations if your reception is smaller or larger than the ceremony

separate driving directions likewise

reception menu reply cards

hotel information for out-of town guests

a list of restaurants and attractions in the area for out-of-town guests

place cards and table numbers for the reception

session for engagement photos.

thank-you cards

envelopes

postage

Start thinking about who you’d like in your wedding party (bridesmaids and groomsmen).

Begin a list of people to invite, including addresses.

Attend a local bridal show or two and take notes about what you like.

Research wedding etiquette.

Start thinking about a honeymoon.

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Pick up your printed engagement photos.

Pick up your announcements from the printer.

Mail the announcements to friends and family.

Place an engagement announcement in the local newspaper.

Choose a wedding party:

Maid of Honor

Best Man

bridesmaids

groomsmen

Choose a flower girl and ring-bearer, if you’d like.

Finalize the invitee list and gather any addresses you don’t have.

Find a hotel for out-of-town guests and make preliminary reservations.

Visit potential venues and book them for the:

rehearsal and dinner to follow

ceremony

reception

Begin interviewing:

a legally ordained officiant to perform your ceremony

one or more photographers to capture the day in pictures

a florist to provide bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids, as well as table

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a catering company to provide food and servers for the reception

a baker to provide a wedding cake

musicians or a DJ to provide music at the reception

one or more musicians to perform at the wedding, unless you prefer the ceremony

venue’s sound system

Ensure your homeowner’s/renters insurance covers the engagement ring, or consider

alternate jewelry insurance

Start shopping for wedding dresses.

Start shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses.

arrangements for the reception

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If you want a wild night out with the ladies, have your Maid of Honor plan a bachelorette

party. If you’d prefer a more sophisticated outing, make it a bridesmaids’ luncheon.

Find a formal wear outlet in your area with a good selection for the groom and groomsmen.

Buy any undergarments you might need for fitting wedding attire.

Recruit the Best Man to plan a bachelor party for the guys.

a videographer

a florist

a catering company

a baker

musician(s) or a DJ

Decide if you’ll write any or all of your own vows. If so, begin drafting them.

Meet with your officiant to discuss vows and the style of the ceremony. Get to know

him/her, and share about yourselves.

Shop for wedding dresses; try on your favorites, and order one. (You should order no later

than 7 months before your wedding date). Remember accessories, if desired:

shoes

veil

gloves

undergarments

Select and order a set of invitations and related materials:

driving directions to the ceremony

gift registry information

a ceremony program

reply cards

separate reception invitations

separate driving directions likewise

reception menu reply cards

hotel information for out-of town guests

a list of restaurants and attractions in the area for out-of-town guests

thank-you cards

Choose music (and book musicians, if necessary) for the ceremony:

Prelude (when guests are being seated)

an officiant

a photographer

Choose one to three wedding gift registries at stores physically and monetarily

accessible to your guests.

Select and book:

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General Wedding Checklist

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Complete the steps required in your area to obtain a marriage license.

Meet again with your officiant. Discuss vows and readings, and make a specific plan

for the ceremony.

If you’ve chosen to write your own vows, finalize them with help from close friends,

family members, and the officiant.

Meet your baker and order a wedding cake.

Get fitted for wedding rings and order them.

Plan a rehearsal dinner and provide the information to its attendees.

Schedule an appointment to see your dentist before the wedding.

Prepare gifts for your wedding party members.

Send your wedding invitations. Remember:

ceremony invitations

driving directions to the ceremony

reception invitations

driving directions to the reception

reply cards

reception menu reply cards

gift registry information

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Processional (when the wedding party enters, followed by the groom, followed

by the bride and her father, traditionally)

Solos (performances for the occasion)

Recessional (when the bride and groom leave, followed by the wedding party)

Postlude (when guests file out and enter the receiving line to greet the bride and

groom and wedding party)

Book your honeymoon and order or renew your passports as necessary.

Visit your videographer to make final plans, sign a contract, and provide a deposit.

Determine your state’s requirements for obtaining a marriage license and start the process.

Meet with the caterer to discuss the reception menu, beverage, and place setting materials.

Meet with the florist to discuss bouquets for the bride and bridesmaids and table

arrangements for the reception.

Select and order formalwear for the groom and groomsmen. Confirm bridesmaids have

been fitted and ordered their dresses.

Arrange transportation for the wedding party between the ceremony and reception.

Keep working on your vows, if you’ve decided to write your own.

Finalize a block of hotel rooms for out-of-town guests.

Choose readings for the ceremony (and their readers, if not your officiant).

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hotel information for out-of-town guests

a list of restaurants and attractions in the area for out-of-town guests

Finalize your guest list, allowing room for minor last-minute changes.

Give your reception venue and caterer the final guest count and confirm arrangements

for seating and dinner, respectively.

Make a seating chart for the reception and order place cards and table numbers from

your printer.

Visit your bridal shop for a final dress fitting.

Pick up the wedding rings and put them in a safe place you’ll remember.

Prepare toasts to friends and family for the rehearsal dinner.

Make appointments to have your hair and nails styled prior to the rehearsal.

Visit your dentist for a whiter wedding smile.

Confirm hotel reservations for your out-of-town guests, and make sure they’ve been

able to book their rooms.

If you don’t have a wedding coordinator, find a trusted friend or family member to be a

Key Contact for your wedding professionals. This person will meet, direct, and pay

Pick up all attire for your wedding day and honeymoon, including make-up, spare

hosiery and anything else you may need.

Remind rehearsal attendants of its time and location.

Confirm appointments and arrangements for the wedding day with the:

officiant

photographer

Arrange luggage and travel necessities for your honeymoon.

each professional on your wedding day.

Finalize your music list: must play / don’t play lists

musician(s) or DJ for the reception

videographer

florist

catering company

musician(s) for the ceremony

transportation providers

Write out checks to each of these wedding professionals and organize them in separate envelopes.

(valuables, medications, etc.).

Pack for the honeymoon, keeping a list of anything you may need to add last-minute

Confirm travel arrangements for your wedding day and honeymoon.

Spend at least one day relaxing and reminding yourself that your wedding is a celebration of love.

Arrange for the post office or a trusted neighbor hold your mail while you’re away.

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Pick up any attire you don’t already have. Make sure you have all parts of each outfit

Prepare a handbag of necessities and emergency items.

Give yourself time to relax with something you enjoy.

Welcome guests as they arrive from out of town.

Note the location of your wedding rings so you can give them to the Maid of Honor and

Note the location of your marriage paperwork so you can give it to the officiant before

and iron them as needed.

Best Man before the ceremony, or to the ring-bearer.

the ceremony.

Go to your hair and nail appointments before the rehearsal dinner.

Rehearse for the wedding and enjoy the rehearsal dinner with close friends and family.

Do something relaxing and try to get a good night’s sleep.

Allow yourself time to prepare without being rushed.

Wake up with some light exercise and try to eat a healthy breakfast.

Give the groom’s wedding ring to the Maid of Honor and the bride’s ring to the Best

Man, ensuring that each has a way to them safe until the ceremony. Alternately, give

them to the ring-bearer, or whoever can help a younger ring-bearer.

Give thanks and gifts to each member of the bridal party.

Enjoy your day! Your family, friends, and wedding professionals will take it from here.

Preserve your bouquet.

Enjoy your honeymoon!

Have your wedding dress cleaned and preserved.

Send thank-you notes to attendees.

Close your gift registry accounts.

Meet the videographer to screen your video, view cover design drafts if applicable,

and finalize your package purchase.

Adam Pressley Films2602 University Boulevard West

Jacksonville, FL 32217904-222-8949

adam@adampressleyfilms.com

www.adampressleyfilms.com

T H E D A Y B E F O R E

T H E W E D D I N G D A Y

Meet the photographer to view proofs and finalize your package purchase.

Submit copies of you favorite honeymoon photos to your videographer, if you’ve

planned to have them included in your wedding video.

General Wedding Checklist

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A F T E R W A R D